Page type: Format comparison (two named formats)
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When each fits
Choose Bingo Bango Bongo when a small group wants three individual points per hole for first on the green, closest to the pin and first holed. Choose scramble when teams want a collaborative gross-score round, selecting one best shot and playing from it until holed.
Bingo Bango Bongo in brief
A three-point-per-hole game for first on the green, closest to the pin and first holed.
scramble in brief
A team selects the best shot, then everyone plays from that spot until the ball is holed.
Table
| Comparison | Bingo Bango Bongo | scramble |
|---|---|---|
| One line | A three-point-per-hole game for first on the green, closest to the pin and first holed. | A team selects the best shot, then everyone plays from that spot until the ball is holed. |
| Players | Minimum: 2 players in an individual group; ideal: 2 to 4. Everyone plays their own ball, and the points are awarded to individuals rather than head-to-head sides. | Minimum 2 players in a team; ideal 4 for the standard team version. This is a team-against-field format, not inherently head-to-head, although teams can be paired for a match or side bet. |
| Scoring unit | Points per hole: one Bingo for first on the green, one Bango for closest to the pin after all balls are on the green, and one Bongo for first to hole out. Three points are available per hole; the group should agree how ties, a missed green and any unclaimed point are handled before starting. | Strokes: the team records one gross score for each hole, adds the holes for a gross round total, then subtracts the agreed team handicap for a net result. |
| Handicap method | There is no WHS allowance specifically prescribed for this informal points game. A Colorado Golf Association article says handicapping is not necessary; it also notes that longer hitters can have an advantage in the first-on-the-green contest. If Alex, Ben, Chris and Dana want a net-score variant, the Committee or group must write its own terms rather than automatically transplanting a stroke-play or match-play percentage. WHS Appendix C says allowances are applied to unrounded Course Handicap, but its listed formats do not include Bingo Bango Bongo. | For a four-player scramble, the WHS recommended allowance is 25% of the lowest Course Handicap, 20% of the second, 15% of the third and 10% of the highest, applied to unrounded Course Handicaps before the team Playing Handicap is rounded. For three players the recommendation is 30%/20%/10%; for two players, 35% low/15% high. The Committee or event Terms of Competition should specify the allowance, and a club may set a different approved arrangement. |
| Money settles how | The format has no inherent stake. If the group agrees on $1 per point, total each player's points across the round and settle the difference at the end; alternatively, settle each hole's points as they are recorded. State the dollar value, tie treatment and whether a three-point sweep is doubled before teeing off. | Only by prior agreement: commonly one team-versus-team or pooled end-of-round settlement based on net totals. A scramble has no inherent betting or payout rule; record the stake, tie treatment and payment method before play. |
| Pace | Usually slower than ordinary stroke play for a small group when the group strictly preserves playing order, because players must wait for the ball farthest from the hole and track who is first to the green, closest after all balls are on, and first to hole out. A two-player group can be easier to manage; this is an editorial tendency, not a measured fact. | Usually faster than ordinary individual stroke play for a team, because one selected ball is continued after each shot; it can be slower than a casual individual round when teams debate every selection or apply minimum-drive and placement conditions. This is an editorial tendency, not a measured claim. |
| Best for | A casual two-to-four-player round where different skills can win separate points and every hole stays live. It suits friends who want a simple side game without making gross score the only route to a result, provided they agree the local rules and any stake first. | Four-player social or charity days where collaboration, a forgiving team score and a clear end-of-round ranking matter more than individual score ownership. |
| Weakness | The first-on-the-green point can favour longer hitters, and strict farthest-first order can slow the group or create disputes if players putt out of turn. Because this is a house game rather than a WHS format, an unagreed handicap or tie rule can change the result after play has started. | The strongest shot-maker can dominate selections, while local variations such as minimum drives or a restriction on who plays the next shot can make the format harder to explain and compare. |
Worked example
Illustrative inputs and selected terms, not historical results. If Alex is first onto the green and first to hole out, while Ben is closest after all reach the green, the selected Bingo Bango Bongo rule gives Alex 2 points and Ben 1. Stakes are a separate house agreement. In this explicitly selected scramble event, Alex's side selects a shot at each stage and records 4; Ben's side records 5. The team sizes, selected-shot procedures and gross or net contest are event terms.
Rule reference: WHS Appendix C (scramble allowance recommendations); Rules of Golf Rule 3 and Committee Procedures Section 9C where applicable; Bingo Bango Bongo is an informal side game without a universal WHS allowance.
Sources: www.massgolf.org , www.usga.org , www.usga.org
Common questions
How do Bingo Bango Bongo and scramble score differently?
For Bingo Bango Bongo: Points per hole: one Bingo for first on the green, one Bango for closest to the pin after all balls are on the green, and one Bongo for first to hole out. Three points are available per hole; the group should agree how ties, a missed green and any unclaimed point are handled before starting. For scramble: Strokes: the team records one gross score for each hole, adds the holes for a gross round total, then subtracts the agreed team handicap for a net result.
How do handicaps apply in Bingo Bango Bongo vs scramble?
Bingo Bango Bongo: There is no WHS allowance specifically prescribed for this informal points game. A Colorado Golf Association article says handicapping is not necessary; it also notes that longer hitters can have an advantage in the first-on-the-green contest. If Alex, Ben, Chris and Dana want a net-score variant, the Committee or group must write its own terms rather than automatically transplanting a stroke-play or match-play percentage. WHS Appendix C says allowances are applied to unrounded Course Handicap, but its listed formats do not include Bingo Bango Bongo. scramble: For a four-player scramble, the WHS recommended allowance is 25% of the lowest Course Handicap, 20% of the second, 15% of the third and 10% of the highest, applied to unrounded Course Handicaps before the team Playing Handicap is rounded. For three players the recommendation is 30%/20%/10%; for two players, 35% low/15% high. The Committee or event Terms of Competition should specify the allowance, and a club may set a different approved arrangement.
When should I choose Bingo Bango Bongo instead of scramble?
Choose Bingo Bango Bongo when a small group wants three individual points per hole for first on the green, closest to the pin and first holed. Choose scramble when teams want a collaborative gross-score round, selecting one best shot and playing from it until holed.